Entries by Chris Simonite

The following text will be published in the program for Red River Song, presented on April 28th and 29th: Red River Song is a celebration of Manitoba’s Métis heritage – from culture to carts. From the first decade of the 19th century through to the 1870s, the Métis people developed a way of life perfectly […]

You could hear them coming from miles away. Those Red River Carts, using no axle grease,were the soundscape of the prairies, the pride of the Metis traders. Made entirely of wood, lashed together with rawhide, able to carry vast loads and negotiate anything the Red River Valley topography could throw at them, the Red River […]

Run, Freddy, Run! is second installment in a set of pieces that looks at Manitoba’s heirloom bison culture. The text is constructed form bison themed varia copied down during my post PhD gap year in Winnipeg. One can’t get far in MB without encountering a bison branded object, organization, business or activity. For example, I […]

The following text will be published in the program for A Tale of Two Cities, presented on February 24 and 25, 2018. Returning to Winnipeg after a 20-year absence has been, in many ways, a gratifying experience. I’ve been offered wonderful artistic opportunities that have given me fresh perspective and challenged me to continue growing […]

At the end of the summer, our Artistic Director Andrew Balfour led the creation of an original Indigenous-based dramatic opera entitled Mishaabooz’s Realm. The première will be performed on December 15 and 16 in Montréal and on December 21 and 22 in Haliburton. This exciting new opera was jointly commissioned and produced by the Highlands […]

Camerata Nova artistic director Andrew Balfour was awarded the a Senate 150th Anniversary Medal from Senator Pat Bovey during a ceremony in November in Ottawa. The medal is awarded to “Canadians whose generosity, dedication, volunteerism and hard work make their communities a better place to live.” Congratulations, Andrew!

The following text will be published in the program for Snow Angel, presented on November 25 and 26, 2017. You never know what you’re going to get… In 22 years, Camerata Nova has never done a concert celebrating, and designed for, youth. Plus, although Snow Angel certainly has a Camerata Nova Christmas flavour, we have […]

Camerata Nova is excited to announce that Artistic Director Andrew Balfour will be part of the creation of a completely new and original Indigenous based Dramatic Opera; Mishaabooz’s Realm, jointly commissioned and produced by the Highlands Opera Studio/Theatre and L’Atelier Lyrique de L’Opéra de Montréal. This exciting new work promises to be multi-media and multi-directional, incorporating […]

Two small ensemble classical concerts at Canada Scene this weekend presented a striking contrast between the experimental and the traditional. One was innovative, inclusive and thoroughly engaging, despite some flaws in the execution. The other was technically impeccable, but stuffy and unoriginal. On Saturday afternoon, the Winnipeg chamber choir Camerata Nova brought its Taken project […]